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Campbell takes final stage but Hennis tops JICC

Published:Monday | April 3, 2023 | 1:10 AMLennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer
Anguillan Hasani Hennis (centre) acknowledges the applause from the spectators after securing the elite title at the Jamaica International Cycling Classic in Montego Bay yesterday. Sharing in the presentation are second-place winner Akil Campbell (left) a
Lennox Aldred
Anguillan Hasani Hennis (centre) acknowledges the applause from the spectators after securing the elite title at the Jamaica International Cycling Classic in Montego Bay yesterday. Sharing in the presentation are second-place winner Akil Campbell (left) and third-place winner Briton John (right).

Trinidadian Akil Campbell, riding for team AVR, secured the 50-mile stage three event, but it was his teammate, Hasani Hennis, that took the overall title following yesterday’s third and final day of the Jamaica International Cycling Classic (JICC) in Montego Bay.

Campbell outsprinted Jamaican teammates Jerome Forrest and Andrew Ramsey in the final 200 metres to secure 23 points, which in the end, was just short of the overall champion Hennis from Anguilla, who finished 12th in yesterday’s final stage but did enough on days one and two to secure the elite category.

Hennis, despite not picking up a single point on the final day, ended the classic with 50 points after back-to-back victories, amassing 23 and 27 points over the first two days.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

For his efforts, Hennis took home the first-place prize of US $1,000, and the Anguillan was pleased that he was able to come to Jamaica and secure his first yellow jersey win against top-notch international competition.

“Today was a pleasant day for me because coming into the day, I knew I had a good lead. The goal today was to make sure the team got the top three prizes, which is what we did, and I am satisfied with my performance and the team’s performance,” Hennis said.

Campbell made it a one-two finish for overall team champions AVR with the Trinidadian ending on 48 points, with Guyana’s Briton John placing third after amassing 28 points.

In the meantime, Jerome Ameline of the Cayman Islands took the overall Master’s title with his 35 points, leading Kirk Finnikin from team ‘Fire Wheels’ who finished second with 33 points and Lynn Murray from team ‘Ride Your Bike’ ending up in third with 30 points.

The Super Masters event on day three went to Donald Davis, with Winston Virgo second and Shawn Tollouje third.

The Female Open event was secured by Sherena Gray, with Aura Lagnado taking the second spot while Natalie Rapacz ended in third place. Khalil Francis took the under-18 title.

Edwin Sutherland from team AVR secured the first King of the Mountain (KOM) stage in Duncans, with Jyme Bridges of team AVR taking the second KOM. Bridges secured both sprint titles.